Pull box



Novl, 1949. A, TOWART, JR 2,486,447

PULL Box Filed Jan. 27, 1948 f5 r Z6 Hug-mill!!! EI w', l f

INVENToR. @PCH/5 Town/97j 77e. BY'

W Z Z C l ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1949 .STATES OFFICE.

PULL BOX Archie Towart, Jr., West Caldwell, N. J., assigner to Specialties Development-y Gorporation, Believille, N.. J a corporation ci. New Jersey Application January 27, 1948, Seri1="No. 4,694

6 Claims. l.

This invention relates tofv improvements in pull boxes and the like, and is particuiarly directed to pull* boxes for use remote control' systems which' are normally inoperative but which are adapted to be operated upon a predetermined actuation of a controlmechanism.

W'hile the present inventionl is especially concerned: with pull boxes for the use indicated, it will'` be apparent from `the description to followthat such pull boxes' are also ladapted for use in any installation wherein the'- prevention of unauthorized tampering with theV control and an indication that the control: has been operated, are desired.

In pull boxes ofthe-character indicated, as at present' constructed, the control handle or pull handle is enclosed in a glass covered box or casing', and a hammer or similar device is provided for' use in breaking the glass to' obtain access to thel handle. In such devices, when the glass is broken, particles of the shattered glass are present in the box and often splinters of the glass are retained; about the edges of'opening, render'- ing it hazardous to'- reach into the 4boxiorthe handle.

Also, in such prior devices, thehammer'isoften lost, or removed sometimes byy mischievous individuals, so that when it' becomes necessary to break the glass, a substitute forthe hammer must be located, resulting in delay' in operating thev system.

One of the objects of the present invention resldesin the provision off-a pull box offthe` character indicated which is so constructed as to over-V come'- the disadvantages of'former pull' boxes.

Another objectV resides in thev provision of a pull boxy which does notv require the use of` a hammer tov breaka glass toobtain access to the` control or pull'handle.

Another object is thel provision of a pull box wherein thev danger of injury by# broken glass is entirely eliminated.

A` further object isthe provision ofi a. pull box' wherein thei control. or pull handle serves also as the means for rupturingrthe shieldor`V coverv for. the box:

A further object resides inthe: provision of a: pull box of the'character: indicated wherein; the portion; of.' theshieldl or covercfor, thev boxr remaining after rupturing can readily be removed and a new one substituted.

A still further object'Y resides in theprovision of a pull: box of sturdy construction; which will withstand the outdoor elements; andy whichf readilyfoperablez.

Other and further obj ects-of the present invention` will'be apparentes thev invention is described in greater detailf in connection with/the accom-- panying drawing wherein a-preferred embodi ment ofY the inventionl iswillustrated.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a iront e1evatibnal- View oi `a pull box made in accordance with theV present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2', showing the position of the2 parts after operation.

Referring tothe drawing in detail, Il)I designates a pull box constructed in accordancewith thepresent invention comprising a base plate* 'I2' having aperture* |41 formed therein for therec'eptionoi asleeveor socket member It. The

sleeve or socket member has aiiange i8 at one'v end and is screwti`ireaded on its exterior for the reception of av nut 2U. The socket is adapted to be inserted in` an aperture inv a wall 2-2, or other support, and whenV the nut 2U is screwed on the socket member, the ange I8 is brought' into` engagement with the plate l2, whereby to securely anchor the plate' to the wall. Rotation of the of an exteriorily'threa'ded cable clamp 30. This clamp has' onev end' of a pull cable 32 clamped thereto, the other end of which is secured to 01perating; means (not shown). for the systemto'be controlled'. The plug` 26 has oppositely'disposed' .1'0- radi'al recesses providingv` a pivotal mounting forl the ends of" a spring-wire ring constituting. an operating, or pull handle-34.

The4 handle 34" serves the dual function of a pull or operating handle for the pull. cable, and

f of means for effecting., the openingY oi`- the pulllbox..

by rupturing the shield or cover for the box. as will be described presently.

'Ilhe pull. box is. covered by a. irangible shield or cover 36, preferably of transparent plasticmaterial, having a raised=c11pmshaped central portion.

3 nating adjacent the horizontal center line of the pull box, thereby exposing the lower portion of the handle 34, which extends out of the cover through said notch.

The shield 36 is held in place on the base plate l2 by means of a ilat ringshaped retaining member 40, which in turn is held in place by screws or bolts 42, whereby the marginal rim 38 of the shield is clamped between the ring 40 and the base plate I2.

If desired, the shield may be provided with a score line or weakened zone 44, as shown in Figures l and 2, whereby to facilitate rupturing of the shield along a predetermined line.

When it is desired to operate the system to be controlled, it is merely necessary to grasp and pull the lower end of the handle 34, which projects out of the notch or cut-out portion of the shield, causing the handle to rotate on its pivot and engage the edge of the shield at the cut-out portion and sever the cup-shaped portion from the marginal rim, whereby the handle, together with the plug 26 and the cable clamp `3D, can be withdrawn from the box to eiect pulling of the cable and the operation of the control mechanism at the remote end of the cable.

It will be noted that the pulling of the handle to effect rupturing of the shield and the pulling of the cable are the result of a single continuous operation, there being no separate operation necessary to first rupture the cover.

Should the cup-shaped portion of the cover not be completely or sufficiently severed by the raising of the handle about its pivot during the initial step of the operation, the completion of the severing or rupturing operation is accomplished when the plug 26 engages the shield upon its withdrawal from the box.

After the system has been operated, the ruptured shield and/or the projecting handle serve as indicating means for indicating that the system has been operated, and that a new shield should be installed. The insertion of a new shield is a simple operation, merely requiring removing the screws 42 and the retaining member 40, removing the marginal rim of the ruptured shield, and inserting a new shield.

When the shield is scored or weakened, as hereinbefore mentioned, the severance of the same will be along the score line 44, which line may be provided in any desired location, whereby the line of severance may be predetermined.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the opposite portions of the ring-shaped handle 34 engage the opposite arcuate edges of the shield, so as to facilitate the initiation and continuation of the severing operation.

It will be understood that the shield may be semi-circular with either a straight or slightly arcuate lower edge adapted to be engaged by the handle for severance of the shield in the manner described.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides a pull box wherein the pull handle for operating a control system serves the dual function of an operating pull handle and of means for opening the box.

It will also be seen from the: foregoing that the marginal rim portion of the cover may readily be removed` after severance of the central portion, and a new cover inserted.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to that precise embodiment, as obviously Various modications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a pull box, the combination of an operating handle; pivotal means for one end of said handle; and a rupturable shield covering the pivoted end of the handle and having an opening through which the other end of the handle extends; said shield having a weakened zone; and said handle being adapted to engage the edge of said shield adjacent said opening, whereby to rupture said shield at said weakened zone when the handle is moved about its pivot.

2. In a pull box, the combination of an operating handle; means providing a pivotal mounting for one end of said handle, the other end of which is free; a rupturable shield having a central cup-shaped portion and a marginal rim, said shield covering the pivoted end of the handle and having an edge terminating intermediate the ends of the handle; and a retaining ring for the shield superimposed on said rim; said handle, when moved about its pivot, being adapted to engage said edge and sever the cup-shaped portion of the shield from its rim.

3. In a pull box, the combination of an operating handle; pivotal means for one end of said handle; a rupturable shield having a central cupshaped portion, a marginal rim, and a weakened zone intermediate the said portion and rim; said shield covering the pivoted end of the handle and having an edge terminating intermediate the ends of the handle; and retaining means for the shield superimposed onv said rim; said handle, when moved about its pivot, being adapted to engage said edge and sever the cup-shaped portion of the shield from its rim at said weakened zone.

4. A pull box for a remote control cable operated system comprising in combination a base plate; a manually operable member; means carried by the base plate providing a pivotal mounting for one end of said member, a frangible shield having an edge terminating intermediate said end of the member and the other end thereof, whereby to cover said rst end and to permit access to the having oneend of a cable attached thereto; any

operating handle pivotally mounted on said plug and having its free end extending through an opening in said cover; and means for anchoring said cover to said plate; whereby when said handle is moved about its pivot, the pressure of the handle against the edge of the cover adjacent the opening therein will cause a portion of the cover to be severed from its anchored portion to permit the withdrawal of the handle and plug to eiect operation of the system.

6. A pull box for a remote control cable operated system comprising in combination a base plate; a frangible cover therefor, said cover having a central cup-shaped portion and a marginal rim; a plug slidably mounted in an aperture in said base plate and having one end of a cable attached thereto; an operating handle pivotally mounted on said plug and having its free end extending through an opening in said cover; and means for anchoring the marginal rim of said cover to said plate; whereby when said handle is moved about its pivot the cup-shaped portion of the cover will be severed from its rim portion to permit the withdrawal of the handle and plug to effect operation of the system, while the rim portion of the cover is retained in anchored position.

ARCHIE TOWART, JR.l

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 820,700 Campbell May 15, 1906 970,800 Cole Sept. 20, 1910 2,031,964 Map'es Feb. 25, 1936 2,356,989 Getz Aug. 29, 1944 

